Saudipedia presents Saudi Arabia’s approach to documenting geographic names at the United Nations, showcasing its role in preserving national heritage and enhancing global digital accessibility.

In a significant step toward enhancing Saudi Arabia’s digital and cultural presence on the global stage, the Saudi digital encyclopaedia Saudipedia presented its pioneering experience in geographic name documentation at the Fourth Session of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN), held in New York from April 28 to May 2, 2025.

Saudipedia: A National Platform with Global Vision

Launched in February 2024 by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Media under the leadership of Minister Salman Al-Dosari, Saudipedia is a cornerstone initiative of the Kingdom’s Human Capability Development Program, aligned with Vision 2030. The platform aims to serve as a comprehensive digital reference documenting all aspects of Saudi life—from geography and history to culture and national development—through rich, multimedia-supported content.

Saudi Arabia’s Participation in the United Nations

During the UNGEGN conference, Saudipedia’s Editor-in-Chief, Hamed Al-Shihri, presented a scholarly paper outlining the encyclopedia’s methodology for documenting and updating geographic names. He emphasized that geographic naming is a key component of spatial data infrastructure, playing a critical role in supporting sustainable development across sectors.

Key Themes of the Paper

Al-Shihri’s presentation focused on six major themes that define Saudipedia’s contribution to the field:

Documenting Geographic Names and Their Cultural Roots
The platform meticulously compiles and analyzes place names across the Kingdom, linking them to their cultural, historical, and tribal origins—thus preserving Saudi heritage.
Highlighting the Cultural Dimensions of Place Names
By mapping the transformations of geographic names over time, Saudipedia reflects the Kingdom’s evolving social and cultural landscape.
Multilingual Accessibility
Saudipedia currently offers content in Arabic, English, French, and Chinese. Russian and German versions are scheduled for release in 2025, reinforcing the global accessibility of Saudi geographic knowledge.
Collaborating with the National Committee for Geographical Names
A strong institutional partnership ensures that the platform is consistently updated and aligned with national standards for geographic data.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Saudipedia follows best practices in SEO, making geographic information easily discoverable via major search engines—essential for academic, media, and government use.
Standardizing Place Name Spellings
One of the encyclopaedia’s strategic goals is to develop a unified, official spelling database for geographic names to facilitate consistency across governmental, educational, and cartographic platforms.

Preserving National Identity through Place Names

Geographic names are not merely labels—they are storied anchors of history, culture, and identity. In Saudi Arabia, Saudipedia’s efforts to systematically document the names of cities, towns, historical landmarks, natural formations, and archaeological sites help reinforce national identity and public awareness.

Through interactive maps, archival resources, and verified governmental data, the encyclopedia connects locations with their historical, linguistic, and anthropological context. This is particularly important in a country with deep tribal and regional roots, where place names carry generational meaning.

Challenges and Opportunities

While Saudipedia has made remarkable strides, the project faces certain challenges, including the need for continuous data updating, maintaining high information accuracy, and expanding user engagement. However, these hurdles also present opportunities—such as forging collaborations with academic institutions and developing advanced digital tools to enhance user experience.

A Digital Future Rooted in Heritage

As a flagship of Saudi Arabia’s digital knowledge infrastructure, Saudipedia reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to preserving and showcasing its rich heritage while embracing digital transformation. By offering authoritative content that illustrates the nation’s geographic and cultural diversity, the platform contributes to a broader global understanding of Saudi Arabia’s role in history, geography, and development.

The UN forum was a fitting stage for Saudipedia to highlight how geographic naming is not just a matter of maps and coordinates—it’s a living narrative of identity, change, and continuity.